The Operational Art of War III receives a final update and a sequel!

[shunwick]

Can someone explain more of the PO assist function. I have always avoided big scenarios because I suck at them and all the counters to move. Is there a thread or video that's explains it real well. I'll check the manual when I get home. Could I just control an army group in barbarrosa ?

Jomni: what to you mean about giving orders at macro level?

I will deal with giving orders at the macro level first.  Essentially, you play the scenario as would normally but instead of moving each and every counter, you can choose to create an objective track for your formations.  Then let the computer control the movements and attacks while following out your orders.

If you are playing a scenario with both sides programmed (most of them are programmed for both sides) then what you find is that don't need to give orders to every formation because they already have their orders.  You only need to intervene if you want to change something.

The PO Assist function for selecting only those formations you want to control manually is similar to what I have described above.  You select the formations you want manual control over and then give them "manual" orders.  The AI will not attempt to move any of those formations/units.  You move them manually as you would normally.

Because of the TOAW combat round system, with up to 10 combat rounds per turn, the PO (Programmed Opponent) will only progress through the next combat round before handing control back to the player.

I don't think there are any videos explaining how to use the PO Assist but it really is easy enough to get the hang of.  You need to check out the What's New document rather than the manual and there is an Elmer Assist Primer document in the manuals folder that will get you started. 

And yes, if you want to control just one Army Group in a Barbarossa scenario then you can do that.  Don't forget that both sides in the scenario must be programmed though.  The best thing about the PO Assist function is that you can choose to control exactly how many formations/units you want to control.

The whole system is much easier to use than it is to describe. 

Best wishes,
Steve 

[jomni]

Can someone explain more of the PO assist function. I have always avoided big scenarios because I suck at them and all the counters to move. Is there a thread or video that's explains it real well. I'll check the manual when I get home. Could I just control an army group in barbarrosa ?

Jomni: what to you mean about giving orders at macro level?

I will deal with giving orders at the macro level first.  Essentially, you play the scenario as would normally but instead of moving each and every counter, you can choose to create an objective track for your formations.  Then let the computer control the movements and attacks while following out your orders.

Bugger.  Norton has just thrown a wobbly at me and I need to reboot  my computer.  This post will resumed when I get back.

Best wishes,
Steve

Yes.  That's it.  Simple orders for a formation and all the units in that formation does their own stuff.

[-budd-]

thanks, i have it installed now i'll check out the doc's. So intriguing.

[Yskonyn]

Yes! Consider me interested as well! Never really knew about the PO thingymajig! (Yeah I know RTFM!)

I have this printed 4 page document titled "Elmer AI Mode Primer" that explains how to use this feature. Can't remember where I got it but it had to have been from the Matrix forum page for this game. It might still be there.

Edit....I see that the primer comes with the patched game in the 'manuals' folder.

Thank you sir! I was the PO a patched in feature then? As that might explain why I was never aware of it.
In any case; thanks! :)